Defending Human Rights Defenders

BAI and IJDH have the backs of Haitians who are threatened, harassed or arrested because they are working for a better Haiti—speaking out, organizing, protesting or engaging the justice system to work for all Haitians and hold even the powerful accountable. BAI gets Haitian activists and lawyers out of jail, defends them in court and gets the word out to Haitian media. IJDH brings the weight of international advocacy and media to bear by taking the cases to international courts as needed. Every activist or lawyer freed or defended is another voice back in the fight to advance Haiti, knowing that the risks they take are mitigated by BAI’s and IJDH’s readiness to step in.

In 2013, BAI Managing Attorney Mario Joseph was a finalist for the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders—presented by a prestigious collaboration of the world’s foremost human rights organizations. The award recognized the constant danger he faces for his human rights work in Haiti, in hopes that the international attention would give Mario some protection. Watch Mario’s nomination video here.